Wheel guard



Feb. 9, 1937. R. w. HARROUN WHEEL GUARD Fled,May 15, 19:54

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Summa/1j 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 9, 1937. R. w. 'HARROUN WHEEL GUARD Filed May 15, 1934 hun Jig. 6.

Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WHEEL GUARD Ray W. Harroun, Detroit, Mieli., assigner to Acro-Style, Corporation, Indianapolia* Ind., a

corporation of Indiana 'I'his invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in wheel guards.

A recent development in the automobile industry involves a wheel fender comprising a side plate or skirt portion that overlies the upper half of the wheel and constitutes a guard, such devices being of permanent construction and it is the primary object of this invention to design a wheel guard in simulation of such construction which may be termed demountable or removably associated with the ordinary fender for disengagement therefrom when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel guard of the foregoing character embodying a novel form of clamping mechanism carried by the guard wall for cooperation with the wheel fender for the rigid placement of the wheel guard relative to the fender.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a wheel guard carrying attaching members for association with a wheel fender wherein the attaching members are located at the inner side of the guard walls andare capable of manual operation at either the inner or outer side of the guard wall to eect placement thereof in position or removal from a wheel fender.

The invention further contemplates the use of tensioned latch members for attaching a wheel guard to a fender to compensate for variances in fender openings so that the guards may be of standard size for use with fenders of different sizes within a limited range.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, ,shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an automobile wheel fender having the improved Wheel guard attached thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the wheel guard showing the key block at the outer side of the guard for the operation of the latch members at the inner side of the guard;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1, showing a tensioned latch member at the inner side of the guard engaged with the lower flanged edge of a wheel fender;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Figure l, showing the latch rod at tached to the cam plate at the inner side of the guard and the key block carrying the cam plate projecting to the outer side of the guard;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a rear elevational view of one of the latch devices for attaching the guard to the wheel fender, the guard and fender being fragmentarily illustrated;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of the l0 guard with the latch device shown in elevation and operatively engaged with the fender;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of another form of the invention showing the tensioning means for the latch device arranged l5 adjacent the cam operating plate and a cooperating hook for the latch device carried by the fender; and

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view" of the guard and fender shown in Figure 8. 20

The wheel guard may be referred to as demountable or removable and is adapted for association with thewheel fender III that is of conventional design, the fender overlying a wheel with the major portion of the latter exposed and 25 said fender at its lower edge is provided with an inturned ange II shown in Figures 3 and 7 that can be rolled on a bead if desired.

The wheel guard I2 comprises a plate or wall having its upper edge I3 curved complementally 30 to the lower curved flanged edge II of the fender I0 and is adapted to overlie the outer side of the fender with a felt strip I4 interposed between the guard and fender to prevent the marring of the surface of the latter. The guard wall I2 bulges 35 outwardly and carries an inwardly directed bottom wall I5 that underlies opposite ends of the fender I0 as shown in Figure 1.

The devices for attaching the wheel guard I2, to the fender I0 include a main latch I6 and 40 auxiliary latches I1 positioned as illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 1. Each latch includes a latch plate I8 having a hook I9Iat its upper end and an apertured flange 20 at its lower end. The mounting for the latch plate I8 in- 45 cludes a block 2I secured to the inner face of the guard wall I2 adjacent its upper curved edge with a pair of spaced ears 22 carried by the block 2I for the support of a cross pin 23 and the latch plate I8 intermediate its ends carries a pair of 50 side edge ears 24 for the support of a cross pin 25, the projecting ends of the pins 23 and 25 being connected by links 2B.

A lever plate 21 is pivotally supported on the Wall I2 of the guard adjacent its lower end and 55 substantially midway the opposite ends of the bottom wall I5, the pivotal mounting for the lever plate 21 being shown more clearly in Figure 4 as comprising a key block 28 positioned at the outer side of the guard wall I2 and journalled in an opening in the wall with the lever plate 21 keyed to the inner end of the key block and retained in position thereon by means of the screw and washer combination 29. The connection between the latch plate I8 and the lever plate 21 includes a rod 30 having its lower end pivotally connected as at 3l to the lever plate 21 with the upper end thereof extending through the apertured flange 20 at the lower end of the plate I8, the end of the rod 30 above the flanged end 20 having a coil spring 32 surrounding the same and engaged with the flange with the upper end of the coil spring engaged by the nut 33 threaded upon the upper end of the rod 30. An abutment disk 34 carried by the rod 30 adjacent to and below the flanged end 20 of the latch plate I8 acts to move the latch plate upon its link connection with the block 2I for disengaging the hook I9 at the upper end of the latch plate from engagement with the ange I I of the fender I0. 'Ihe operating rod 30 for the main latch I6 is directly connected to the lever plate 21 while the laterally positioned auxiliary latches I1, each have an operating rod 30a associated therewith, with the lower ends of `the rods 30a pivotally connected to a cross arm 35 carried by the lower end of the rod 30 as clearly shown in Figures 4, 6, and 7.

The lever plate 21 is of substantially triangular formation and is provided with an angle ange 36 at one corner thereof for abutting engagement with the bottom wall I5 of the guard wall when the latch members are clampingly engaged with the fender I 0 and when so disposed, the operating rod 30 for the main latch member I6 has been moved past dead center as shown in Figure 6 with the spring 32 placed under tension to prevent accidental operation of the lever plate, and release of the latchv members. With the the flange edge I I of the fender I0, pivotal movement of the lever 21 results in a downward pull vupon the latch members I6 and I1 and upward movement of the guard wall I2, the latter being limited by the bottom wall I5 thereof engaging with the edge flanges of the fender Ill adjacent opposite ends thereof as shown in Figure 5 for clamping the wheel guard in position, further movement of the lever plate 21 placing the springs 32 under tension and causing the rod 30 to be shifted laterally of the lever plate pivot for retention of the parts in set position, movement of the lever plate 21 being limited by the corner flange 36 moving into engagement with the bottom wall I5 of the guard wall'. The latch members may be operated from either side of the guard wall I2 by direct operation of the lever plate 21 at the inner side of the guard wall or the operation of the key block 28 at the outer side of the guard wall through the me- Idium of a socket wrench or the like.

In the form of invention illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the wheel fender Illa has a beaded or rolled edge IIa and has a series of hook plates 40 secured by means of rivets or the like 4I to the inner side of the fender Illa with the lower hooked ends 42 of the hook plates extending below the lower edge I Ia of the fender. A lever plate 21a is pivotally mounted at the inner side of the lower end of the guard Wall .|24 by means of the key blocks 28a and the lever plate 21a has one end of an arm 43 pivoted thereto as at 44. An apertured angle flange 45 is carried by the upper end of the arm 43 and through which the rod 46 slidably extends, the arm 43 having a longitudinally extending slotted opening 41 therein intermediate its ends through which the lower angle end 48 of the rod 46 extends for the reception of a disk plate 49 to retain the angle end of the rod in position relative to the arm 43. The coil spring 50 surrounds the rod 46 between the angle flange 45 of the arm 43 and an abutment disk 5I on the rod adjacent the lower angle end 48. The upper end of the rod 46 extends through an apertured guide 52 carried by the inner face of the guard wall I2a and is provided upon its upper end with a hook 53 for engagement with the hook 42 at the lower end of the hook plate 40. In this form of the invention, the means for tensioning the rod 46 is located adjacent the lower end thereof and in proximity of the lever plate 21a and when the latch device is in clamping position, the pivotal connection 44 between the arm 43 and lever plate 21a is shifted laterally of the lever plate pivot 28a for retaining the latch devices aga inst accidental displacement.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent and while there are herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:-

1. In a device of the class described, a substantially semi-circular closure for the side opening of a wheel fender, the ends of the closure adapted to be engaged with the underside of the ends of the fender and the upper curved edge slidably overlapping the substantially vertical outside surface of the fender, and means carried by the closure intermediate the ends thereof and adapted to be engaged with the upper edges of the fender in spaced relation to the ends for maintaining snug engagement between the fender and closure for removably securing the latter in position.

2. In a device of the class described, a substantially semi-circular closure for the side opening of a wheel fender, said closure adapted to be engaged with the underside of the lower ends of the fender and having its upper edge slidably overlapping the substantially vertical exposed surface of the fender, adjacent said opening, and means carried by the closure intermediate the ends thereof and adapted to be engaged with the upper edge of the fender in spaced relation to the ends for moving the closure in an upward and inward direction to eiect binding engagement between the closure and fender.

3. In a device of the class described, a guard wall adapted to close the side opening of an automobile wheel fender, said guard wall adapted to overlie the substantially vertical exposed surface of the curved edge of the fender and be disposed laterally of the fender for slidable overlapping movement relative to the fender, extensions at the lower ends of the guard wall extending beneath the fender for engagement therewith and means carried by the guard wall engageable with the fender for moving the guard wall in an upward and inward direction towards the fender for bindingly securing the guard wall in position on the fender.

4. A wheel guard wall adapted for attachment to a wheel fender having a curved edge, said guard wall having an upper curved edge complemental to'the curved edge of the fender with the lower ends of the guard extending beneath the fender and the upper edge of the guard slidably overlapping the substantially vertical outer face of the fender, and tensioned latch connections between the guard wall and fender for normally influencing the guard wall in an inward direction of movement to eect snug engagement between the guard wall and fender..

5. In a device of the class described, a wheel guard wall adapted to close the side opening of a wheel fender, the lower ends of the guard wall adapted to be engaged with the under side of the fender and the upper edge slidably overlapping a substantially vertical exposed surface of the fender and means operatively associated with the guard wall and fender for maintaining snug engagement between the fender and guard wall for removably securing the latter in position.

6. In a device of the class described, a wheel guard wall adapted to close the side opening of a wheel fender, said guard wall having means adapted to be engaged with the undersides of the front and rear ends of the fender and having its upper edge adapted to slidably overlap a substantially vertical exposed surfacing of the fender, and means carried by the guard wall intermediate the ends thereof and adapted to be engaged with the fender at spaced points above the lower ends of the fender and in spaced relation to the ends of the fender for moving the guard wall in an upward and inward direction to eiect binding engagement between the guard wall and fender.

'7. In a device of the class described, a guard wall adapted to close the side opening of an automobile wheel fender, with the upper edge of the guard wall adapted to overlap a substantially vertical exposed surface of the outside edge of the fender opening, tensioned latch connections between the guard wall and fender for normally influencing the guard wall in an upward and inward direction of movement, and stop means adjacent the ends of the guard wall adapted to be positioned beneath the underside of the fender for effecting a predetermined alignment of the lower edge of the guard wall with the fender.

8. In a device of the class described, a guard wall adapted to close the side opening of an automobile wheel fender, with the upper edge of the wall adapted to overlap a substantially vertical exposed surface of the outside edge of the fender opening, resilient means attached to the inside of the guard wall adapted to overlap the inside edge of the fender opening for engagement with the fender to effect snug engagement between the upper edge of the guard wall and the fender, and means at the lower end of the guard wall underlying the fender for effecting alinement of the lower edge of the guard wall and fender.

9. In a device of the class described a guard wall adapted to close the side opening of an automobile wheel fender, with the upper edge of the guard wall adapted to overlap a substantially vertical exposed surface of the outside edge of the fender opening, resilient means attached to the inside of the guard wall adapted to overlap the edge of the fender opening for engagement with the fender to effect snug engagement between the upper edge of the guard wall and the fender, and stop means adjacent the ends of the guard Wall adapted to be positioned beneath the lower ends of the fender for effecting a predetermined alignment of the lower edge of the guard wall with the fender.

10. In a device of the class described, a guard wall adapted to close the side opening of an automobile wheel fender, tensioned latch connections between the guard wall and the fender for effecting a snug overlapping engagement with a substantially vertical exposed surface of the outside edge of the fender opening, and stop means adjacent the ends of the guard wall adapted to extend beneath the underside of the fender and cooperating with the fender for effecting a predetermined alignment of the lower edge of the guard wall with the fender.

Il. In a device of the class described wherein, a wheel is adapted to be dismounted through a side opening formed in a fender wall, a guard wall adapted to close the opening, said guard wall having an upper curved edge complementary to and overlapping a substantially vertical exposed surface of the outside of the edge of the fender surrounding said opening, complementary locating means adjacent the lower ends of the guard wall and opening and located beneath the opening to effect a predetermined alignment of the lower edge of the guard wall with the lower ends of said opening, and tensioned latching means for maintining said complementary 1ocating means in snug engagement, and effecting inward movement of the guard wall towards the opening to cause engagement of the overlapping upper curved edge of the guard wall and the outer edge of the opening.

12. In a device of the class described, wherein a wheel is adapted to be mounted and dismounted through a side opening formed in the depending outer wall of a fender, a guard wall adapted to close the opening and having an upper edge complementary to and overlapping a substantially vertical exposed surface of the outside of the edge of the fender surrounding said opening, complementary engagement means ad- K jacent the lower ends of the guard wall and fender wall having the opening and extending beneath the edge of the opening to effect a predetermined alignment of the lower edge of the guard wall with the lower ends of the opening,

and means carried by the guard wall adapted to be detacbably engaged with the edge of the fender wall having the opening for retaining the guard wall in position to close the opening.

RAY W. HARROUN. 

